In addition, the AOC attained several accomplishments for the activities aligned with the strategic goal, including:


Visitor Services


 Exhibitions: The AOC offered a number of exemplary exhibitions and programs to educate and inspire the public. These included the Celebrating New American Gardens exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) and Congress and the Separation of Powers, Part 2 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The USBG’s highly popular holiday show, with a theme of train stations across America, drew nearly 220,000 visitors. See Appendix E for an annotated list and description of the major exhibitions held during FY 2019 and a short feature on the Gardens Across America exhibit on Page 40.


 Capitol Campus Visitation: In December 2018, the CVC marked its 10th anniversary since the facility opened to the public. Since opening, the CVC has welcomed more than 24 million visitors from across the country and around the world. The agency’s CVC, USBG and the Library Buildings and Grounds jurisdictions welcomed approximately 4.8 million visitors to the Capitol campus during FY 2019 (as shown in Figure 10). See Appendix F for monthly and annual visitation data.


 Special Events: In FY 2019, the AOC planned, designed and provided support for more than 20 special events in the U.S. Capitol, including congressional ceremonies, joint sessions of Congress and other high profile events. These events included the lying in state for the 41st President George H.W. Bush in December 2018. The AOC staff proudly assisted for 36 continuous hours to support this solemn event.


 Specialty Tours and Educational Programs: The CVC continued to provide a variety of specialty tours for the visiting public. For instance, the Freedom Fighters in the Capitol Collection


tour introduced visitors to four ordinary Americans whose actions changed the course of civil rights history, the Halls of the Senate tour took visitors through the beautiful Brumidi Corridors. This fiscal year, the CVC staff also developed and implemented new educational programs to create greater personal engagement with the U.S. Capitol and its history. This included a new tour, Votes for Women, and two public events: Votes for Women Day celebrating the centennial of women’s suffrage and British Invasion! referring to the War of 1812 and its impact on the U.S. Capitol. The USBG offered several innovative programs including the Morning at the Garden/ Evening at the Garden programs for visitors with cognitive and sensory processing disabilities and their families.


 Library Garden Commemoration: In collaboration with the Library of Congress’ educational programs and exhibits, the AOC planted a flower bed outside of the Thomas Jefferson Building to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote nationally. The color of the flower beds reflected the colors adopted by various suffrage groups. See also Capitol Highlights: Library Garden Commemorates the 19th Amendment.


 American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference: In June 2019, the U.S. Botanic Garden co-hosted the largest ever annual conference (more than 1,100 registrants) of the American Public Gardens Association with the theme Thrive Together, Diversity Grows Gardens. The 2019 conference provided public gardens with the tools to be accessible and inclusive for all who work at and visit these spaces.


 Native American Historical Representation: In FY 2019, the CVC contracted with a museum consultant with an expertise in interpreting Native American history to assist in developing an interpretation plan, accompanying training and supporting materials. This effort will allow the AOC to better highlight Native American history at the Capitol.


FIGURE 10 Capitol Campus Visitation From FY 2014 Through FY 2019


500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000


0 2014 2015 2016 U.S. Capitol Visitor Center 2017 Fiscal Year U.S. Botanic Garden Library Buildings and Grounds 2018 2019 6-Year Average


2019 PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILIT Y REPORT


Management’s Discussion and Analysis • Section I


21


(Rounded to the nearest 1,000)


Number of Visitors


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